Arteta's key Xhaka change explained after infamous run-in with Arsenal fans

Few players in Arsenal's history have enjoyed a more turbulent relationship with the Gunners fanbase than Granit Xhaka.

For years after his arrival in the summer of 2016, it seemed to be very much be a case of 'can't live with him, can't live without him' as Xhaka's tendency to make a high-profile error was cancelled out by the fact Arsenal looked a much better side with the Switzerland international in the team.

Nowadays, Xhaka is a very popular figure among Arsenal supporters and even had his name sung regularly throughout the Gunners last league outing - a 3-0 win away at Brentford. Things haven't always been this way though, it was only November 2019 when the midfielder was guilty of a foul-mouthed on-pitch rant at his own fans before throwing his shirt to the ground and storming down the tunnel.

All of this occurred while he was club captain, a role he was duly stripped of by then-boss Unai Emery in the weeks that followed. Earlier this year, Xhaka conceded his relationship with Gunners supporters will never truly be perfect.

"I can't pretend that my relationship with the fans will ever be the same, because that moment will always be in my heart," he told The Players Tribune.

"It's like broken glass, you know? You can piece it together, but the cracks will always be there. I would like us to have a better relationship. I would like us to understand each other better."

Whether he still feels this way today only Xhaka can clarify, but the sight of him smiling in the direction of Arsenal's hardcore travelling fans while donning the armband in place of the absent Martin Odegaard was a moment nobody who saw that outburst against Crystal Palace three years ago could have expected.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you put Xhaka's fantastic form down to? Comment below

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has since discussed what has helped inspire a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Xhaka and the part boss Mikel Arteta has played in all of it.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport on behalf of BT Sport, the former England international explained: "What's going so right for him [Xhaka] is the calibre of player he is now playing with.

"There has always been a desire, a need to be successful but they are all one year older. He has been there during a time of transition, a number of managers now that he has worked under.

"He's found a niche for himself in midfield, he's been able to express himself and show more of what he is capable of and at the age, he is at it fits perfectly in this team."

Keown is right to highlight the fact that strong transfer windows from Arteta, bringing in the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and even Thomas Partey two years ago has slowly but surely helped Xhaka on the road to redemption.

Keown was quick to add how there needs to be plenty more where this all came from with Xhaka, but admitted the signs shown this season paint a positive picture for the future.

"He's still got to keep performing, to play at a high level to stay with this group and I think it's bringing the best out of him, it's a really good blend - finding himself in good positions, being further up the field, understanding when Zinchenko comes into midfield and getting wide-left, he's got good intelligence and it's causing problems for opponents."

Arteta will be hoping for more of the same from Xhaka when neighbours Tottenham come to visit on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal will be desperate to send out a statement with a win against their arch enemies, but Spurs are made of stern stuff - as shown by their unbeaten record so far this term.

Watch Arsenal v Spurs live on BT Sport 1 from 11:30am on Saturday 1st October. For more info, visit btsport.com

Read more

Top Arsenal stories

Smith Rowe's demand ahead of surgery

Arteta gives Conte taste of own medicine

Sutton and Merson make derby predictions

Jesus' admission on arsenal transfer